RTI query reveals banking frauds of ₹ 2.05 Trillion reported in the last 11 years

509 per cent rise in cases under child labour law: Study

The Central Information Commission has allowed disclosure of file notings on the mercy petition of a rape and murder convict, rejecting the government's contention that the records cannot be disclosed as these are privileged documents under Article 74(2) of the Constitution.

Electoral bonds worth over ₹5,800 crore were bought by donors to fund political parties between March 1, 2018 and May 10, 2019, a Right to Information reply has said.

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LUCKNOW: The Central government has provided categorized security cover to 308 persons, out of which 24 have been provided the highest Z-plus cover, according to the answer to an RTI query.
As per information provided by S.C.L. Das, Joint Secretary in the Union Home Ministry to city-based activist Nutan Thakur, two dozen persons have been given Z-plus security, 59 persons have been given Z security, 109 have been given Y-plus, 34 have been given Y and 82 persons have been given X category security.

59 persons have been given Z security, 109 have been given Y-plus, 34 have been given Y and 82 persons have been given X category security.
LUCKNOW: The Central government has provided categorized security cover to 308 persons, out of which 24 have been provided the highest Z-plus cover, according to the answer to an RTI query.
As per information provided by S.C.L. Das, Joint Secretary in the Union Home Ministry to city-based activist Nutan Thakur, two dozen persons have been given Z-plus security, 59 persons have been given Z security, 109 have been given Y-plus, 34 have been given Y and 82 persons have been given X category security.
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Congress president Sonia Gandhi's daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has requested the Himachal Pradesh government not to divulge her property details in the state since that can put her life in danger.
Priyanka wrote to the state government following a July 2014 RTI query by activist Debashish Bhattacharya. According to the Shimla deputy commissioner, the information cannot be shared as Priyanka is an SPG protectee.
Read more at: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra asks HP govt not to divulge her property details : North, News - India Today

How to file an effective RTI against powerful intelligence and security agency officials who are attacking a harmless single woman engineer daily in Panaji, Goa and elsewhere with the most powerful radiation weapons causing great pain out of hatred, greed and casteism. The harmless woman engineer is in so much pain that she cannot do anything, while the cruel officials attacking her remain anonymous.
This has continued for more than 5 years, and these officials are making up completely false stories to justify their human rights abuses on an innocent person, Even the local PI had admitted that the engineer is being tortured in the worst manner. It is worse than human rights abuses by the police as the cruel attacker will remain anonymous.
A RTI was filed with the human rights commission in January 2015, no satisfactory reply was obtained as these officials are making up false stories without any proof to justify their crime

This may come as a shock to you but an RTI query has revealed that MMRDA spends around Rs 76 lakh every month on expenses for Maharashtra State Security Corporation (MSSC). In a reply to an RTI filed by activist Anil Galgali, it has also come forward that on an average 14,282 passengers are using the services daily.
- See more at: MMRDA spends around Rs 76 lakh every month on security for monorail - News

Hello,
Owner is holding some part of security deposit (6 times estimated electric bill )against payment of the electricity bills and mtnl disconnection even though the payment is made. How should tenant proceed in this case.

ministry of home affairs ,govt of india gave information on my rti about z-security ......1.it ts stated that the responsibility for providing security rests primarily with the state govt. concerned in whose jurisdiction an individual ordinarily resides or happens to be. security to an individual is provided on the basis of assessment of threat carried by security agencies. security provide by union govt. ,it is stated that it is not possible to arrive the exact no of categorized protectees at a time as it is varying from time to time based on threat assessmnt made by central security agencies. however as on date there are 76 number of protectees in the central list . 2-regarding expnditure incurred on security ,it is stated that the responsibility for providing security rests primarily with the state govt.concrnd in whose jurisdiction an individual ordinarily resides or happens to be.due to involmnt of multiple agencies include state govt agencies ,it is difficult to estimate the expnditure on security.moreover such expnditure is incurred by the security agencies concerned under their own budgetary allocation and under their heads of accounts and such figure are neither centrally available nor maintaind .

Report by Akhand, Bhubaneswar: Activists of the state are going to organizing a strategic meeting on 5 January in state Capital Bhubaneswar to chalk out a plan for protection of rights campaigner including RTI users.
- See more at: OdishaDiary - Fuelling Odisha's Future | Latest Odisha news, Odisha breaking news, Odisha Headlines, Odisha latest online news

Dear Esteemed Members of this August Forum,
I had sought information of a security agency which is providing security services in Haryana & Delhi under Section 6(1) of RTI Act 2005. The Company is registered in Delhi. The information sought was:
a) Copy of circular/law/instruction which allow the security agency to continue doing business of providing security guards to various establishments without obtaining license and legal position of Security Agency which applied for registration but did not get license. Is it legal for that Security Agency to do business in meantime and if not provide copy of action taken against that Security Agency and also provide the circular which allow these kind of companies employing more than 1000 Security Guards need not to be registered .
CPIO replied that information does not pertain to them and ask me to come to Office with Complaint reference number and get the information. This was no information.
Filed First Appeal Under Section 19(1) of RTI Act 2005 but there was no response.
Aggrieved, filed second appeal under Section 19(3) of RTI Act 2005 before Central Information Commission, Delhi for non furnishing of Information.
The Hon'ble CIC heard the matter for an hour or so and directed PIO of Labour Department to provide information on following with in a month: ( Copy of Order enclosed)
a.Whether Security agencies, have taken any recognition or license from the Respondent?
b.If no, what action has been taken by the Labour Department to check irregularities of any
in on contract labour, as per law??
This order of Hon'ble Commission would open a Pandora box of unaddressed issues as most of the Security Agencies in this part of the Country do not take any license and drain away Public Exchequer of Service Tax, Employees Provident Fund, ESIC contribution and other government levies.
In addition, Security agencies have free run in flouting labour laws and in process some bad elements sneak in security agencies causing law and order problems.
Thank You for your time.
Yours Sincerly
Harinder Dhingra
CIC_SA_A_2014_000970_M_146712.pdf

Fadnavis urged to provide security to RTI activists
MUMBAI: A high-level delegation comprising chief information commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad and information commissioners D B Deshpande, A K Jain and T F Thekkekara recently called on chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to press their demand for protection to RTI activists.
"Targeting of RTI activists is a serious issue in Maharashtra and several were either attacked or murdered in the recent past. On demand, the activists should be given adequate protection on a case-to-case basis on merit. Earlier attacks on activists should be investigated on a war-footing,'' Gaikwad told Fadnavis.
Pune-based activist Vijay Kumbhar expressed concern over the spurt in attacks and murders of RTI activists. Out of 20 killed between January 2010 and December 2014, seven were from Maharashtra. "The murders are a serious matter. The BJP-led government will have to draft an action plan for their protection. The government must ensure maximum information is available to the aam admi in a routine course,'' Kumbhar said.
Gaikwad said besides the murders and attacks, the delegation told Fadnavis that in the larger public interest, there was urgent need to strengthen the institution of the information commission. "A few posts of information commissioners are lying vacant for long, there is huge pendency. There is also an acute shortage of staff at most commissions,'' Gaikwad said.
The delegation urged Fadnavis that state commissions should be equipped with a strong legal wing.
Gaikwad said there was an urgent need to implement section 4 of the RTI Act, on proper maintenance of records by public authorities and publication of relevant information of each public authority in all departments. He said non-compliance of crucial orders of the commission was a matter of concern.
Read More: Fadnavis urged to provide security to RTI activists - The Times of India

It seems cases of suicide and fratricide are posing a bigger threat to the security forces than militants in the country. According to the latest statistics, more security personnel have died in such incidents than in militant attacks since January this year.
In response to an RTI filed by Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Societies, a non-governmental organisation, 24 jawans have killed themselves either by suicide or fratricide as compared to 15 killed in encounters with the terrorists across J&K.
The security establishment is finding it hard to tackle this menace despite several measures to reduce incidents of suicide and fratricide. As the Valley is heading for normalcy and peace, strategists find the trend alarming.
Read more: Suicides and fratricides pose bigger threat to soldiers' lives than militants | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis

RTIFED :: BREAKING NEWS ::
CHANDIGARH - 15 February 2013
RTI ACTIVIST GETS SECURITY
Today the order came from the District Administration for providing the Security to the RTI Activist Sucha Singh of Jasraur Village of Amritsar District. He is being provided with a gun man at the state cost. I will post the copy of the order as soon as I get it. The case was made out for thretening Sucha Singh for asking for information. The JCAS Society (Jasraur Coop Agri Service Society) threthend him of dire consequenses and its President and Secretary went to the fiels of Sucha Singh with gun to deter him from asking the information. Complaints were lodged with Information Commission, DC DM, SDM, Police Commissioner, SSP, DSP, SHO, Human Rights Commission, Registrar/JR/DR/AR of Coop. Societies, Punjab, Chief Minister and Chief Secretary in view of the threat preception as well as in the light of the Igh Court Judgement in CWP-832 of 2010 as well as the Policy of the Punjab Government for providing protection to the Whistle Blowere and RTI Activists. He had to face a tough time in facing the Officers, who also sided with the culprits and threatened with FIRs against the Sucha Singh. However, Sucha Singhstood his ground and coxed the authorities to go ahead. Untimately the aithorities relented in the wake of Notices received from SIC, SHRC, and to move the High Court, and security has been offerred. RTIFED (RTI Activist Federation) took up his case with all these authorities and releblessly fought for him, resulting in the Provision of Security. This is the First case in the state or through out India, where a RTI Activist has been provided with the Security.
The credit for this Security goes to Advocate H.C. Adv Hc Arora who had instrumental in getting the High Court Directions as well as the State Government Policy for Providing Protection to Whistle Blowers as well as RTI Activists, inthe stae of Punjab Haryana as well as Chandigarh. THANK YOU ADVOCATE H.C. ARORA..
This case will set an example for the other such cases as well as a deterent to the arogant Public Authorities as well as the Public Information Officers.

CIC to visit Tihar, meet War Room Leak accused
AS REPORTED by Mohit Sharma, July 07, 2008, Express India
New Delhi, July 6 Chief Information Commissioner Wajahad Habibbullah will be visiting the Tihar Jail next week. The reason: Intelligence Bureau's denial to reply a Right To Information (RTI) query by two accused in the Navy War Room Leak case.
The two are currently lodged in the jail, having been booked under the Official Secrets Act.
According to sources in the jail, the matter came to light when the officers — Ravi Shankaran and Vijender Rana — filed the RTI application last month, seeking to know the basis of their arrest and the cases against them.
The jail officials said after a month, they received a reply. “The Intelligence Bureau refused to present the documents,” an official said. “The applicants were reluctant to accept the reply given by the IB.” Following this, the two wrote to Habibbullah's office and it was decided last week that the CIC would visit Tihar.
Confirming the visit, Habibbullah said: “A visit to Tihar Jail on July 16 is on our schedule. We have two to three matters, including the War Room Leak case pending for hearing. To avoid inconvenience to Tihar authorities in producing them before us, we have decided to pay a visit to the jail.”
He said the two officers did indeed have queries about the Intelligence Bureau's denial.
Tihar sources added that the CIC would be accompanied by a few officials of the Commission. Undertrials Shankaran and Rana are in jail number one. They, along with three other defence officers, were charged under the Officials Secret Act for allegedly entering into a conspiracy and
“compromising” about 7,000 pages of defence information.
The documents from the Naval war room and air defence headquarters had a direct bearing on national security. The CBI registered the case on March 20, 2006, following a reference from the Defence Ministry and a scrutiny of an inquiry conducted by the Indian Air Force.
CIC to visit Tihar, meet War Room Leak accused - ExpressIndia.Com

RTI: Security cover info denied
AS Reported in http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com 13 Jun 2008,
CHANDIGARH: The concern for "security" and utilization of public money
forced a Panchkula resident to move an application under the Right to
Information Act seeking details regarding deployment of Punjab cops on
VIP security duties. He also wanted to know the reasons for providing
security cover to "significant" persons, daily expenditure incurred on
such security and more importantly who was bearing the cost.
Shakti Paul Sharma, the appellant, added that he didn't intend to know
the details of security cover given to CM, governor, cabinet
ministers, judges, government buildings, state-owned buildings etc.
Despite this, the authorities concerned replied that as per a
government notification, the RTI Act did not apply to their security
wing. Following this, Sharma's lawyer Sapan Dhir moved second appeal
and chief information commissioner, Punjab, has fixed the case for
July 9.
The application raised significant queries regarding the number of
police personnel deputed on security duties and names and designations
of the officers on whose orders the cover was provided. Also, posers
were taken up on the names and status enjoyed by the people to whom
security cover was given. Moreover, the RTI plea also focused on the
reason for providing security and total expenses incurred till date.
The experts point out that though under the Article 21 of the
Constitution it was the state's duty to protect its citizens along
with maintaining law and order by providing security cover to a
person, who is having threat to his life, however, it could not be
claimed to flaunt it as a status symbol. The threat to life should be
real.
Even if the security was provided immediately on demand, authorities
are entitled to inquire into the correctness of facts stated by the
person seeking security cover. The aim to file this application was
that on public money is being spent on the such security covers
provided by the state government," said Dhir.
RTI: Security cover info denied-Chandigarh-Cities-The Times of India

As reported by Gautam Dheer at expressindia.com on 22December 2008
Chandigarh An estimated Rs 150 crore of public money spent every year on guarding Punjab’s VIPs notwithstanding, the state government’s largesse to provide security “free of cost” to the cash-rich Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) for cricket matches has now almost become a norm. The government is yet to recover the crores it has spent on providing security at the venue for various international matches.
The PCA, hosting the second Test match between India and England from Friday, has been turned into a fortress again, with hundreds of Punjab policemen guarding it.
According to documents obtained under the Right to Information Act, the PCA has since 1996 not paid any money to the state government for security at the stadium. The PCA has Rs 1.5 crore due towards the government. In at least six international cricket matches held at the stadium, no bill was not raised. For other matches, where bills were presented to the PCA, the recovery of money seems a distant dream.
Under the Punjab Police Rules on the deployment of police force, the government is supposed to realise the payment in advance against security provided to corporate bodies or commercial establishments.
The PCA has also not cleared bills for the Twenty-20 IPL cricket matches held this year. In May, the Mohali SSP raised a bill of over Rs 1.88 crore for the seven matches held between Kings XI and other clubs, but to no avail.
The Pakistan-New Zealand match in 1997, India-Bangladesh in 1998, Star Nite match in November 1998, India-Sri Lanka, Pakistan-India matches in 1999 and the India-New Zealand match in October 1999 were events where the government did not bother to foot any security bill to the PCA, according to the documents.
The Punjab Police have fixed the scale of charges on the basis of which the cost is to be recovered. While posting an inspector on security duty for five hours or per night of four hours costs Rs 1,700 per day, a constable would cost Rs 600 for a similar arrangement. While top officials in the state government did not throw any light on the issue, PCA officials could not be contacted for comments.
Source : Punjab sleeps over security dues by PCA - Express India

Dear friends,
I have just joined RTI India. Those of you have been following the recent articles by Veerappa Moily, A Suyra Prakash etc that have been posted may have read about me. I am a retired Army officer, who served in RAW for about 31/2 years. Last year I wrote a book titled INDIA'S EXTERNAL INTELLIGENCE - SECRET OF RESEARCH & ANALYSIS WING (RAW) in which I pointed out several anomalies such as lack of transparency and accountability, corruption, indiscipline and so on. For my efforts, I am being prosecuted under the infamous Official Secrets Act, 1923.
So much for the brief introduction. I will soon post a detailed brief giving the latest situation, especially the systematic manner in which the bureaucracy stone walls the use of the RTI Act to obtain 'uncomfortable' information.
Regards
Maj Gen VK Singh

Cops play security card against RTI
As Reported by SANTOSH K. KIRO, Indian Express
Ranchi, June 17: Jharkhand police have refused reply to a Right to
Information Act (RTI) application seeking the number of primary and
secondary schools occupied by paramilitary forces.
Though the state information panel asked the home department to
furnish the information on April 28, the police refused to divulge the
details as it could "hamper the state's security" and "harm life and
property of people".
In the reply to the application filed by state general secretary of
People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) Shashibhushan Pathak,
director-general of police (human rights) Ramlakhan Prasad said: "As
the information is related to the life and property of the common
masses, disclosure of the information is exempted under section 8(a)
and section 8(g) of the RTI."
The sections state that information affecting the sovereignty,
security and interests of India or endanger a life can be exempted
from the RTI Act.
Police spokesperson R.K. Mallick said Pathak was free to appeal. "This
is the view of the police headquarters. If the applicant disagrees, he
can appeal," said Mallick.
But the state information commission is the highest appellate in RTI matters.
Paramilitary forces occupy several schools, especially in rural areas,
as they have been deployed to fight Naxalites and do not have other
place to stay. Though it is common knowledge in a given area where the
security personnel are put, the number of schools under occupation is
not know.
Beside the number of schools, Pathak had also wanted to know which
government order allowed the forces to occupy the schools. "I fail to
understand how the information I have demanded would hamper the
state's security," said Pathak, pointing out that he had only wanted
the numbers.
The PUCL member said the government was violating the fundamental
right to education by stationing paramilitary forces in schools. "As
the state has enough funds to tackle Naxalites, it can put up tents
for the forces. Why should it take away the space of children in
schools?" he asked.
Even the Jharkhand State Information Commission has refused to accept
the excuse of the police. "The argument of the state police is not
acceptable. The police have to provide the information sought," said
state information commissioner Gangotri Kujur.
Pathak is not accept the explanation of the police as he has come a
long way seeking this information.
He had filed the application under the RTI Act at the directorate of primary education in April 2007. When he did not get the details, he
moved the office of the deputy director of the directorate of primary
education in December 2007. When this attempt also failed to bear
fruit, Pathak approached the state information commission.
Then came the reply from the human resource development department
that the occupation of school buildings by paramilitary forces
concerns the home department. The state information commission asked
the home department to provide Pathak with the information but only
got a refusal in reply.
The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Jharkhand | Cops play security card against RTI

This is strange. As a layman none of the research topics look like affecting "natiuonal security" !
NEW DELHI, APRIL 8 : The Government doesn’t want to explain why and how it decides to reject a research proposal by a foreign scholar.
Responding to an application filed under the Right to Information Act by The Indian Express — which first exposed how the Government is not only delaying clearances to US research scholars but also forcing some of them to change their subjects — the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry refused to part with any information.
Its response, signed by director Anupama Bhatnagar, cited the following as reasons: that this correspondent is “not an affected person” and that giving this information “would affect national security.”
“...Due to its sensitive nature,” she replied, “disclosure of the information sought by you would prejudicially affect the security of India and its strategic/economic interests and might have adverse implications on our relations with foreign states.”
The Home Ministry was a little more open.
It did list the nine research proposals of US Fulbright scholars that the Government rejected “after due consideration of the sensitivity of the research proposals.”
On the subject of why and how, the Home Ministry, too, declined to give any information other than saying: “(They were declined) after due consideration of the sensitivity of the research proposals.”
These are the “sensitive” proposals:
• Prospects and problems of outsourcing for India’s economic growth
• Is tourism a win-win for local livelihoods and forest eco-systems in the Central highlands of India
• The Imaginary Princess: A Muslim girl’s story
• Language ideologies in Mumbai schools
• India’s energy security
• Women’s struggle for empowerment
• Democratization in Kerala
• Political Empowerment and Biodiversity in Kerala
• Politics of land privatisation and access in Delhi.
The Indian Express had highlighted the problem of granting visas to the Fulbright scholars in February this year, where delays ranged between 5 to 21 months. In some cases, the research proposals were rejected and a fresh topic was granted approval. The Government then decided to put a “red channel” and “green channel” in place but no decision has been taken yet.

New Delhi, November 9: Former Youth Congress leader M S Bitta has written a letter to the Centre seeking information under the RTI Act as to why his security was withdrawn in 1993, two days before a bomb attack on him.
The former Punjab minister, who heads the All India Anti-Terrorist Front, has sought the assessment report of the security review committee from the Home Ministry in his case in September 1993. Nine people were killed and several others injured in the bomb attack at Delhiâ€™s Raisina Road.
â€œI feel there was some conspiracy behind the sudden issuance of the order of security withdrawal by the Ministry of Home Affairs in my case. ... I feel there had been deliberate attempts to expose me to terrorists,â€ he said in his letter to the VIP security director in the Ministry.
In the letter, he has sought whether the Centreâ€™s decision to withdraw security was prompted by some â€œpolitical pressureâ€ as he â€œrecalled he had faced a deadly attackâ€ in May 1992 in Amritsar.
He has also sought information on action taken against agencies involved in security arrangements for former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi before his assassination.